What’s the Best DJ Software?

Thank you Z-Trip for tweeting this video link! This DJ Hero video has some video of the actual game as well as the turntable/mixer controller. The video says that the DJ Hero release date is sometime in October 2009. Plus, you can play as DJ AM, DJ Z-Trip, and DJ Shadow!

As a huge Guitar Hero fan, I’m really excited for DJ Hero to drop in October!

Native Instruments recently released Traktor Scratch Duo, a bare-bones DVS system for DJs that want to mix on two turntables or CD players with music stored on their laptop. Traktor Scratch Duo doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of Traktor Scratch Pro, it more closely resembles Serato Scratch Live. But, while Serato Scratch Live is $539 ($699 with the SL-3), Traktor Scratch Duo is only $350!

I’ve been a Serato DJ for years and am very pleased with my DVS system of choice, but if Traktor Scratch Duo was available back when I purchased Serato, there is a good possibility that I may have chosen that instead!

Last week, Rane/Serato announced the new SL3 box for Serato Scratch Live. The main improvements over the original SL-1 box is improved sound quality and a 3rd auxiliary input which is supposedly going to open up “third deck” possibilities in the future for Serato users. I saw the launch announcement and was like “Cool, I’m sure Serato will have some sort of upgrade program and I’ll be able to grab it for like $250.” Wrong! If you want the new SL-3, you’re going to have to pay $699!

For most of my gigs, the sound quality of the SL-1 is more than adequate. I can’t really justify spending almost $700 on the SL-3 just to get better sound and a 3rd input. This is a great item for new Serato DJs, but for existing users, it is a very expensive (and maybe not worth it) upgrade.

The Numark NS7 was launched today. Is anybody really going to drop $1300 on this thing? At least it works hand-in-hand with Serato Itch, so it might be worth it.

Pretty nice video demo of its features below.

Over the past few years, Serato has been releasing different colors of their time-code vinyl. The discs come in Red, Blue, Gold, Clear, Purple and even WHITE! Most of the colors have been fairly easy to obtain, with the exception of Purple and White.

Purple was only available for a limited time at certain Guitar Centers around the country, but white Serato vinyl is a completely different story. It is rumored that only 200 copies of the white vinyl were pressed and personally delivered to the top Serato-using DJs around the globe.

Pictures have been floating around DJ forums of this infamous Serato white vinyl in action. Recently, I was watching an eBay auction of a set of 2. The final selling price……..$410!

There are bootlegs available if you don’t feel like dropping $400. I couldn’t locate the specific websites, but the bootlegs are called “Stars of Scratch” and “Rock This Party.”

My friend Jeff and I got together recently for a basement DJ mix-session. Jeff is running Numark Virtual Vinyl (same thing as Virtual DJ) on his laptop along with the vinyl timecodes.

I’m running Serato Scratch Live on mine with vinyl timecodes as well.

Check it out! Not bad for a Sioux Falls DJ!

If you’re using Serato, you probably already know that Serato Version 1.9 is in public beta. As of this writing, it is currently in Public Beta 2, which historically will be followed by Release Candidate 1, 2, then the actual release of 1.9.

On the Serato Forums (and other DJ forums) there has been a lot of discussion about the Easter Eggs in Serato 1.9. The first is supposed to be much like the Pong Easter Egg, only with Space Invaders, and the second Easter Egg is supposed to be a third deck.

I could care less about Space Invaders, but was excited to hear about the third deck. I’ve wanted something like that for a long time - I mean, Traktor users get 4 decks, what about us Serato guys?

Well, after much searching, I discovered that these particular Easter Eggs in Serato 1.9 were a complete hoax and do not exist………BUMMER!

I’m sure since 1.9 is such a HUGE release/upgrade, there will be some Easter Eggs, but as of right now, nobody has found any.

Sweet! Using a midi controller makes it a lot easier, but you can also use your keyboard and mouse. Serato version 1.9 beta is available for download now at www.serato.com, and Video-SL 1.1 beta will available in early Feb.

A little mix with Serato version 1.8.3. Visit www.bpmdjproductions.com/blog to download the entire 25 minute mix.

I managed to find another DJ AM mix for your listening pleasure. This is a pretty nice DJ AM set recorded live at Banana Split (wherever that is.) It’s a little different mix than most of his other stuff. It starts out with more of a House music feel.

Enjoy!

DJ AM Mix - Live at Banana Split